Opportunity In Looming NFC South Firings
December 1st, 2019
Can you use me in Illinois, Lovie?
Officially, the Buccaneers are in second place in the NFC South.
Yes, the Panthers lost at home to the bumbling Redskins today. Gerald McCoy’s fifth sack of the season was not enough.
The Bucs are ahead of them in the standings on a tiebreaker, and the Panthers have dropped four in a row on the heels of closing last season losing seven of eight games. Head coach Ron Rivera is toast barring an incredible finish.
In Atlanta, head coach Dan Quinn is certainly getting fired.
Joe brings this up because there’s no question a huge opportunity is approaching next season for the Bucs. They’ll have an experienced coaching staff and continuity, assuming Jameis Winston returns, in addition to a load of salary cap flexibility to fix issues on the roster. But two of their three division counterparts will be starting fresh in many respects.
Since the Bucs organization obviously has decided it’s disinterested in playing for draft position, then Joe will have to abandon that twisted fantasy and hope even harder that the Bucs can keep everyone extra healthy through the rest of this season so they can best evaluate what they have — as their rivals prepare to blow up their staffs and rosters.
Firings in Atlanta and Carolina, along with an seven- or eight-win Bucs season, would restore a lot of hope from Brooksville to the shores of Bradenton Beach.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:11 pm
8-8 football purgatory
December 1st, 2019 at 5:11 pm
Hire raheem. THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:12 pm
In the words of The Rev. Jessie Jackson “KEEP HOPE ALIVE 🤡❗️“ GO BUCS 🤡❗️
December 1st, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Lovie says: stand tall and take it like a man …can you see me now!!! BOWLING!! Ha h a ha ha !
December 1st, 2019 at 5:14 pm
This is very interesting.
However, the division still belongs to the Saints
December 1st, 2019 at 5:14 pm
What’s wrong with 9 wins?
Sent Koetter to Atlanta
Sent McCoy to Panthers
Shoulda sent Hargreaves to Saints
December 1st, 2019 at 5:14 pm
Dang this makes my day……Sure 2nd place means little in this year but for any honest Buc fan the last month showcases a real step of progression for Our team!!!!
I may not be proud of our total body of work but right now on December 1st I am danged proud of this team and where we are headed!!
GO BUCS BABY!!!!
Let the Bucs get good and then we can be great!!!
December 1st, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Alan……We also broke Cam Newton and likely end his career in Tampa…..We also threw a ton of shade on Quinn in Atlanta and can get him fired with a stomping on the 29th……That will be two franchise foes we can send into spiral mode while we try and take over the division.
Next year’s task will be breaking the Saints which probably means we gotta get to Bress. For this reason we must retain Suh. He is our key. Did you see how ha d he hit Matt Ryan?
December 1st, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Carolina**
December 1st, 2019 at 5:21 pm
JimmyJack-
Bucs have about $55 mill in cap space next year- I’d spend it all on D and draft more trench talent
December 1st, 2019 at 5:23 pm
As a result of this game, the Jags will also go through a house cleaning. Losing at home to the Bucs means that your team is in a really bad place.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:23 pm
This whole draft pick whining is ridiculous. Answer this question. How many times have we picked in the top 10 in the last 10 years? Where has it gotten us? How many winning seasons? How many playoff appearances? Why is that? Because this organization since Bruce Allen was here has been wasting draft picks. This team learning how to win is better than any draft picks we might potentially waste.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:25 pm
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL 🤡💰❗️GO BUCS 😀❗️And have a BEER 🍺 ON ME 🤡 ❗️IRA Kaufman ❗️Just Now 🤡❗️Derrick Brooks just said 🤡❓”Who was that masked man Ira 🤡❓” That’s Shaq Barrett❗️The New King 👀👑💰❗️Of Edge Rushers 🤡❗️Joe been saying to the masses for years that the Bucs been lacking A Pass Rush since the Glazers let Michael Bennett go bye-bye 🤡❓But now we have JPP and Shaq Berrett 🤡💰❗️And remember this❗️A strong pass rush helps a young defensive backfield 🤡❗️GO BUCS❗️
December 1st, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Bucs have $93 million next year
December 1st, 2019 at 5:33 pm
“Lol
Instead of out playing them
Send our ex coaches and ex players to destroy within”
Kobe Faker
The ultimate fade
December 1st, 2019 at 5:39 pm
This is what Bucs strive for, to not finish in last place. And somehow they still think JW will turn it around. That’s why we suck each and every year.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:50 pm
Colts, Lions, Texans, Falcons…All winnable games. 9-7 to build momentum and confidence and carrying through to next season. That’s building a program. Playing for draft picks is a loser’s mentality.
December 1st, 2019 at 5:56 pm
@Buc_U
Exactly! Unless you’re in the running for a top 2 pick, tanking is for losers!
We’ve seen a lot of teams over the years finish a season with a strong 6-8 game stretch and then go on a playoff run the following season. Why not the Bucs finally?
December 1st, 2019 at 6:02 pm
BigHog, are you really bowling????
December 1st, 2019 at 6:05 pm
BigHog, I guess you meant a bowl game for Lovie
December 1st, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Isn’t this the same Joe that did not want the Bucs to draft Devin White?
The Bucs need to establish a winning culture. If the Bucs defense truly has turned the corner then the Bucs have a great shot at finishing 8-8 with a lot of momentum heading into next year with the 3rd most cap room in the NFL.
December 1st, 2019 at 6:11 pm
I am no longer confident in my preseason prediction of 5-11. It would be so like the Bucs to go 2-6, put the season in the toilet, then go 6-2 in a meaningless 2nd half to ruin the draft position.
December 1st, 2019 at 6:13 pm
At this point it looks like we’ll draft 10-15. Don’t think we’ll find a game changer there. I’d rather win anyway. Makes me feel good for some strange reason…
December 1st, 2019 at 6:29 pm
I can possibly see an 8-8. I’m somewhat excited for the future. I just don’t want Jay Miss to be part of it.
December 1st, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Plenty of talent drafting 10-15.
Patrick Mahommes. Drafted 10th
Deshaun Watson. Drafted 12th.
Heck, how about Lamar Jackson at 32nd? You can find future Hall of Famers anywhere in the first round. Or any round for that matter. Licht is not as bad as you think. And remember, he drafts along with the Coaching staff input based on what they want. This years class is starting to look pretty darn good. So I don’t think we have to worry if we are even around 20th. Rather see 8-8 or 9-7. That means we learned how to win.
December 1st, 2019 at 6:53 pm
As I’ve said several times I would like to see Jameis franchised for the one year so we are not stuck long term with a big contract with him and as I’ve said many times this year, I want to see what this team and also Winston look like next year under Arians
December 1st, 2019 at 8:27 pm
Danr Says
“Hire raheem. THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY.”
That will never happen in Tampa again…as well it shouldn’t.
December 1st, 2019 at 8:29 pm
I say re-sign Jameis with a lot of incentives and only a 1-2 year guarantee. Drafting a rookie to start would mean 2-4 years of development anyway. Stick with Jameis, who regardless of turnovers, still has us in the top 10 of offenses each year.
December 1st, 2019 at 8:30 pm
Alvin Scissors Harper Says
“I can possibly see an 8-8. I’m somewhat excited for the future. I just don’t want Jay Miss to be part of it.”
Why? If he gets us to 8-8 this year, that means he is playing better. Or is it more personal for you?
December 1st, 2019 at 9:52 pm
Great article and some hope would be much appreciated.
December 1st, 2019 at 10:36 pm
Maybe Carolina will hire Dirk, Atlanta will hire Leftwich and we can finally have BA calling plays!
December 1st, 2019 at 11:40 pm
Why root for draft position when your team sucks at drafting?
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:07 am
I have 0 respect for anyone supporting playing for the draft.
Pathetic loser mentality. I will not accept that anymore.
December 2nd, 2019 at 4:04 am
I say we as fan get together and just surround jpp at the end of the year. Surround him everywhere he goes. Hell even when hes home. Let’s wrap him in bubble wrap to keep him healthy. When this man is healthy and plays, hes a monster. Nassib has quietly been a huge difference as well. Now barrett has help
December 2nd, 2019 at 8:50 am
Jameis would make for a good backup. The defense has done more than there part to compete. What good is limiting even the best running backs in the league if you’re QB can’t make them pay. 6 TOs against Carolina. 4 against Tennessee. 4 against the Saints. At some point his decision making has to be questioned
December 2nd, 2019 at 9:19 am
I have no doubt that the Bucs will resign JW one way or another. More important they need to sign Barrett. Sooner rather than later. Also need to sign Nassib & JPP.
December 2nd, 2019 at 9:43 am
It’s really frustrating to hear/read you repeatedly talk about playing for draft position. You’re either playing for the draft or trying to establish a wining culture- you can’t do both. What if Dungy threw in the towel after 6 games of his first season- would they have had the success that came afterwards? If you’re going to thrown in the towel when the season is half over what message does that send? Your quinten Nelson example is also silly. The Colts aren’t lighting it up with him and the most impressive teams right now drafted after he was off the board. Good teams can evaluate talent and find value regardless of the spot they are picking.
As for the 2020 draft- this may sound pessimistic but is it really going to matter as long as they are incapable of drafting the right players or developing them?